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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Joints 2017; 05(03): 180-183
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1605591
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Tuberculosis of the Knee: A Case Report and Literature Review

Francesco M. Uboldi
1   Department of Knee Surgery, Gaetano Pini Hospital, Milan, Italy
,
Silvia Limonta
2   3rd Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Milan, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy
,
Paolo Ferrua
1   Department of Knee Surgery, Gaetano Pini Hospital, Milan, Italy
,
Andrea Manunta
3   Orthopedic Unit, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
,
Antonio Pellegrini
4   Reparative Orthopedic Surgery and Infectious Complications Unit, San Siro Clinical Institute, Galeazzi Orthopedic Institute, Milan, Italy
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
11 August 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is currently in resurgence due to immigration from endemic areas. Skeletal TB frequently mimics more common etiologies and can be difficult to diagnose. A case of TB knee arthritis in a young woman with painful and swelling knee is reported here. Arthrotomy was performed and inflamed synovial tissue was found, with multiple rice bodies in the eroded lateral femoral condyle. The patient was treated with an antituberculosis polytherapy and at 1-year follow-up, she reported relief from pain and swelling. We believe that all surgeons assessing patients from TB endemic regions have to adopt an updated approach to TB treatment. Thus, a literature review is also reported here on the current strategies used in different knee TB cases.

Keywords

skeletal - tuberculosis - knee - arthritis - therapy
 

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